1
: a stout pole
2
a
: a stout rounded usually wood or metal piece (such as a mast, boom, gaff, or yard) used to support rigging
b
: any of the main longitudinal members of the wing of an airplane that carry the ribs
sparred; sparring
1
a
: box entry 3
especially
: to gesture without landing a blow to draw one's opponent or create an opening
b
: to engage in a practice or exhibition bout of boxing
3
: to strike or fight with feet or spurs in the manner of a gamecock
: any of various nonmetallic usually cleavable and lustrous minerals
Examples of spar in a Sentence
Verb
He's been sparring with his trainer.
They sparred playfully over whose team was better.
Recent Examples on the Web
Tara Suter, The Hill, 31 Oct. 2024
Bezos, on the other hand, sparred with Trump during his term as president.
—Samuel Burke, Fortune, 29 Oct. 2024
Demicia Inman, VIBE.com, 5 Nov. 2024
Meanwhile, Baldwin has billed Hovde as an out-of-touch wealthy businessman as the two spar over the seat in the battleground state.
—Kaia Hubbard, CBS News, 21 Oct. 2024
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Verb
Ultimate Fighting Championship President Dana White and billionaire Mark Cuban sparred over their presidential picks on Wednesday.
—Tara Suter, The Hill, 31 Oct. 2024
Bezos, on the other hand, sparred with Trump during his term as president.
—Samuel Burke, Fortune, 29 Oct. 2024
Noun
In the lyrical spar, J. Cole offered a diss record against his Compton peer, but then retracted the song and issued an apology.
—Demicia Inman, VIBE.com, 5 Nov. 2024
Meanwhile, Baldwin has billed Hovde as an out-of-touch wealthy businessman as the two spar over the seat in the battleground state.
—Kaia Hubbard, CBS News, 21 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for spar
Dictionary Entries Near spar
Cite this Entry
“Spar.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/spar. Accessed 28 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
spar
1 of 2 noun1
: a stout pole
2
: a long rounded usually wood or metal piece (as a mast, boom, or yard) to which a sail is fastened
spar
2 of 2 verb
sparred; sparring
1
: to box or make boxing movements with the fists for practice or in fun
Etymology
Noun
Middle English sparre "a stout pole, a pole used to support a sail on a ship"
Verb
Middle English sparren "to dart, spring"
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